Description

It can detect the concentration of Au and Cu even at very low concentrations (ppm).

The limit of detection for Cu absorption is 0.003 ppm.

The limit of detection for Au absorption is theoretically 0.01 ppm, but in actuality is around 2-4 ppm.

Purpose of Use

Atomic absorption spectroscopy is used to detect trace amounts of specific elements in solution to a high degree of precision. The sample passes through an acetylene-air flame, upon which it is atomized. This collection of atoms contains mostly atoms in the ground state and very few that have been excited to a higher energy state by the flame. An element-specific lamp that produces light at an extremely narrow wavelength shines upon the collection of atoms in the ground state and the absorbance is measured. The concentration of the sample is then calculated using Beer's law from a calibration curve of standard solutions of known concentration.

Analysis of samples is relatively fast, compared to UV-vis spectroscopy. The path length in an AAS is also comparatively long (between 10 and 15 cm), which maximizes the accuracy of detection of trace amounts of analyte.

However, relatively large sample amounts (around 1 to 2 mL) are required for analysis.